HEAD OF SCHOOL, BASIS International School, Beijing, China

BASIS International School, Beijing

Coeducational | Day | PreK-8 | BASIS Curriculum

for August 2019

In August 2020, BASIS Global will be launching BASIS International School Beijing. This elementary school, expected to launch with 400+ students, will eventually be for up to 1,200 students, initially from Grades PreK-6, growing to be PreK-8. BASIS Global are currently seeking a Head of School, to commence in August 2019 to prepare the school for launch and lead it thereafter.

The BASIS Curriculum Schools network is a U.S. nationally ranked and internationally acclaimed, rapidly expanding network of 37 schools, operating in three complementary markets: public charter schools in the USA; independent schools in the USA; and private international schools, globally. Together, the schools educate more than 22,000 students, and have produced exceptional results as measured by national US rankings, AP and international assessment scores, National Merit Scholarship Program honors, and college admissions, among numerous assessments and results. These results are driven by a vibrant school culture where students learn to love learning while embracing the dynamic, internationally benchmarked BASIS Curriculum.

The BASIS Curriculum Schools network was founded by Michael and Olga Block in 1998, with their first charter school established in Tucson, Arizona. Since then the network, which has its central office in Scottsdale, Arizona, USA, has grown significantly, now operating 27 charter schools, 5 independent schools, and 5 international schools in China. At the core of their educational vision is a belief that the goal of a great education is to provide students with choices, with unbounded opportunities, to send them to institutions of higher education and into their professional lives empowered by the broad and deep content knowledge and critical thinking skills that will enable them to craft their own futures.

Schools that use the BASIS Curriculum are among the best in the world. In recent years, new BASIS Curriculum Schools have been opening annually and are producing truly outstanding academic results. In 2018, the BASIS Curriculum Schools network has the five best high schools in the United States, six of the top ten, and seven of the top fifteen high schools in the highly-regarded U.S. News & World Report annual high school rankings. It is the first time a network or district has swept the top five spots – or seven of the top fifteen. BASIS Scottsdale is #1, BASIS Chandler is #2, BASIS Oro Valley is #3, BASIS Tucson North is #4, BASIS Flagstaff is #5, BASIS Peoria is #8, and BASIS Phoenix is #14. Similarly, in the Washington Post's two esteemed rankings lists, the BASIS Curriculum Schools network has a total of seven schools. On the Post's numeric rankings, BASIS Phoenix is #1, BASIS Oro Valley is #4, and BASIS Flagstaff is #5. The network also has four schools on the Post's top list, commonly referred to as the "Public Elites", which is officially a selection of "top performing schools with elite students." BASIS Chandler, BASIS Peoria, BASIS Scottsdale, and BASIS Tucson North are all on that esteemed list.

All BASIS Curriculum Schools share a common philosophy, assessment practices, academic program, and end result - the BASIS Diploma. Indeed, the accelerated core BASIS Curriculum has consistently earned both the network and its individual campuses much data-backed acclaim, while delivering to students the best possible academic outcomes.

In 2014, the BASIS Curriculum Schools network began expanding the scope of its revolutionary educational operations – including recruiting teachers from overseas, and hosting international students on exchange programs. Soon after, BASIS Global was born, undertaking the growth of the network's overseas operations in China, developing and operating schools using the BASIS Curriculum at locations throughout the country. In the Spring of 2015, BASIS Global announced that it would open BASIS International School Shenzhen that autumn; from the outset, interest was sky-high, and students and families from Asia, as well as American and European ex-pats, flocked to the new institution with the tried-and-true world-class program. It was merely a first step for BASIS Global, just as BASIS Tucson turned out to be a first step for the network late last century.

BASIS Global now has plans well underway for significant international expansion, with up to ten international schools in its sights over the next few years, predominantly in Asia. It's part of the BASIS Global vision to deliver a gold standard of education all over the world. This standard will be achieved by combining the world class BASIS Curriculum with highly qualified teachers who are sought and hired for their deep subject knowledge. They also benefit from, and contribute to, the BASIS Global team's extensive international expertise and resources.

The first BASIS International School launched in Shenzhen, China in 2015, opening with 400 students in grades preK to 9 and has grown to over 1,000 students with extensive waiting lists now in this, its fourth year. This phenomenal success was recognised as the largest first year opening of an international school in the history of Southern China, and further successes have continued for the school such as being asked to represent China in the World Scholars Program. The second BASIS International School has just opened in Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, in August 2017.

In August 2019, BASIS Global will be launching BASIS International School Nanjing, in the Jiangshu Province. The school will be a day and boarding school for up to 1,200 students, initially from grades K-9, growing to be a PreK-12 school.

BASIS Global plans to open schools in Chengdu, Wuhan and other metropolitan cities in China, some of which are also proposed to launch in August 2020. BASIS Global is currently seeking to appoint a Head of School for its new school in Beijing, to commence in August 2019, who will prepare the school for its launch and lead it thereafter.

For this new school in Beijing, BASIS are looking for a leader who is both passionate and knowledgeable about early years and primary education, who can take the unique BASIS Primary Model and develop a creative, stimulating, learning environment which instills a love of learning in the hearts and minds of the students and prepares them to build the skills and knowledge to pursue higher learning through and beyond the education provided by the BASIS Curriculum.

This will be an outstanding opportunity to lead the development of a new elementary school in China, one of the most successful and respected countries for its academic achievement, with the advantage of offering one of the USA’s most innovative and successful curricula and pedagogical approaches.

Being affiliated with one of the most highly acclaimed and demonstrably successful educational organizations operating today, a Founding Head of School with BASIS International will occupy a prominent role in the forefront of educational innovation and raise the level of academic possibilities in international schools in China. With the benefit of a well established model, you will enjoy the challenge of establishing a new school with a unique intellectual culture and the environment of a well backed start-up. Heads of School enjoy a good deal of autonomy in the leadership of their schools. Further, with the support of both BASIS Global and its local Chinese partners, Heads of School will benefit from longer term growth opportunities as the network expands in China and elsewhere.

There is no specific requirement for applicants to have had experience with any particular national curriculum. Due to the uniqueness of the BASIS Curriculum, system and approach, the only requirement will be for the Head of School to be open-minded, inquisitive, and dedicated to understanding and embracing the mission of BASIS Curriculum Schools, as well as the network's philosophy and academic program. Becoming a vocal champion of this unique program is critical to inspire prospective families, faculty, and staff to reach the greatest potential one can attain through studying the BASIS Curriculum and earning the BASIS Diploma.

To learn more about BASIS International Schools in China, please take some time to watch their Youtube videos at the following website: http://bit.ly/BASISinternationalschoolsYouTubeChannel.

For an informal discussion about this opportunity, please contact Edward Clark on +44(0)1256 862840 or +44 (0)7718 588616, or email at edward@lsceducation.com.

To apply for the post of Head of School of BASIS International School Beijing, please click on the Apply Now button below and upload your CV and Letter of Application, quoting code BASISB.

BASIS Global is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. The successful candidate will be required to undergo relevant background checks.